Benidorm Tourist Information

Benidorm is the most visited tourist resort on the Costa Blanca coast of Spain.

With great beaches, the Mediterranean Sea to swim in, a busy resort packed with bars, restaurants and clubs, no wonder this is so popular.

With the fifth largest population in the Alicante province, Benidorm is located 45 kilometers northeast of the city of Alicante, and just south of Altea.

Benidorm at night – Photo by FDV, Wikimedia Commons

It is the central destination on the Costa Blanca with it’s dominant skyline sometimes being called the “Manhattan of Spain” due to the high-rise tower blocks. The backdrop to Benidorm is the magnificent mountain range known as Sierra Helada.

Benidorm is certainly a place you will either love or hate as it divides opinion.

Once a small fishing village, it has been heavily-developed though many would claim it as over-developed – but then again it is good to have some resorts that have lots of bars, restaurants and nightclubs.

Yes Benidorm is busy and noisy but that attracts some great entertainers and lots of men and women looking for a good time. If you want a quiet, relaxing traditional Spanish tourist resort there are plenty of other alternatives to go to instead.

Benidorm is a big sprawling metropolis and although there’s no way we would think of living there, we love it!

Clearly it has something going for it as over 4 million visitors come here every year. Many of these are on organised package holidays from Britain where everything is included from flights, airport transfers, accommodation to food and drink (all-inclusive).

If you are looking for a no-frills holiday to Benidorm, a package holiday is usually your best option for finding a cheap holiday deal and is ideal for pensioners and OAP’s looking for some winter sun at a cheap and reasonable price.

If you are not on an organised package holiday you may want to read our page on where the nearest airports to Benidorm are as well as airport transfer options and prices.

With a flying time of about two hours from most Northern European airports, long weekend breaks are becoming increasingly popular. Benidorm represents great value for money compared to other destinations. The price of food and drinks are low due to the amount of competition between bars and restaurants.

Things To Do and See in Benidorm

Benidorm is rather unique in that it attracts many different segments of holidaymakers, for example many younger people visit Benidorm for the vibrant nightlife and the huge amount of bars, clubs and pubs.

Benidorm also attracts many pensioners and retirees who enjoy the many facilities such as restaurants and shops all very close together within walking distance and all with very reasonable prices.

Benidorm also attracts young families because of the fabulous beaches lined with the promenade full of lively bars with live music, restaurants and shops, and again your hotel or apartment is likely to be within a short walk.

Young families also enjoy the many options for excursions and activities and there are lots of things to do and see if you have children.

Consider taking your children to the Benidorm Circus, held every Sunday in the Benidorm Palace car park. Adults €16, kids €8.

Benidorm has suffered from a somewhat downmarket and tacky image being linked with being cheap and cheerful, full of fish and chip shops and brimming with drunk English lager louts.

Thankfully the Benidorm tourist board are now addressing this negative image and looking to take the resort more upmarket. It also should be pointed out that a tremendous amount of Spanish people enjoy holidays in Benidorm too.

Theme Parks

There is a superb amount of attractions, of course there are nightclubs, bars and restaurants galore but Benidorm also a number of unique attractions not found elsewhere namely the five Benidorm theme parks.

This makes Benidorm a great choice for a family holiday as it has something for everyone.

Terra Mitica is the biggest and best with many rollercoaster rides but also plenty of rides and shows for the little ones too.

Aqualandia and Mundomar are sister parks within walking distance of the Levante area of Benidorm. Aqualandia is the water park with slides and pools and Mundomar is an aquatic sea-life marine style attraction.

Beaches

The reason Benidorm has become so large and so popular is the beautiful setting with three miles of fine sandy beaches and crystal clear waters with wonderful all-year round climate and hot sunny weather in the summer.

There are two wonderful long sandy beaches, Playa Poniente (sunset beach) and Playa Levante (sunrise beach), separated by a rocky promontory, the Canfali vantage point that offers great views in each direction. At the foot of this lookout point is the Mal Pas cove.

The main Benidorm beaches are long and wide although very crowded in summer. Levante (to the left) is busier than Poniete. There is also a very good beach south of Poniente at Finestrat.

Benidorm – Playa Poniente

There are no nudist beaches in Benidorm itself – the nearest beach for nude sunbathing would be Raco Conil – this is about 4km south of Benidorm towards Villajoyosa – take the N322 towards the casino near Villajoyosa and turn left at the casino (now closed) and follow the road down to the car park where you will find a small rocky cove. This is Raco Conil and a gathering place for naturists.

There are plenty of watersports available such as waterskiing and parasailing. For scuba-divers you can visit the Llosa reef teeming with sea-life.

Benidorm Old Town

Benidorm also has a lovely old town area inbetween the Levante and Poniente beaches. This area is very traditional, very Spanish and quite peaceful. This area is centred around the Canfali vantage point (Balcony of the Mediterranean) and the Parque de Elche.

The old town district has all the major shops of Benidorm as well as some good bars. The streets are narrow and winding. Be sure to see the San Jaime church with it’s landmark blue dome.

Benidorm has an area in the old town where you will find many gay bars, gay pubs, saunas and gay nightclubs. Some of these are also open to straight people – the Rich Bitch drag queen show is well-known.

Boat trips to Peacock Island

From the Benidorm beaches you can see a rock known as Peacock Island (Isla de Benidorm) because of the birds that inhabit the island.

You can catch a boat there from the port or even better catch the boat along the coast to Calpe. The waters are very clear and filled with schools of fish making it an ideal location for a scuba-diving trip.

You can also catch boat trips south to Tabarca island which is near the town of Santa Pola.

Benidorm Palace

The Benidorm Palace offers a Las Vegas-style show complete with dinner as well as dancers, flamenco, juggling, magicians and big band/orchestra. This venue has been featured many times on the well-known ITV television comedy series called Benidorm.

Indeed, many visitors to Benidorm try to find the locations used on the sets of the series. The hotel which is called the Solana is in reality the Sol Pelicanos Hotel. Neptunes Bar, where many hilarious scenes have been filmed, is a real bar called the Morgan’s Tavern which does have many good cabaret shows and tribute bands.

Shopping

Visitors to Benidorm can enjoy a great variety of shopping from the markets, the cheap Chinese bazaars to the designer shops such as Zara at the La Marina Mall in Benidorm.

The Carrefour supermarket in Benidorm is a huge hypermarket with many types of food from Spanish to English (British) and also popular is the Iceland supermarket.

Golf

You can play golf in Benidorm at the Villaitana wellness golf and business sun resort. Villaitana has two 18-hole golf courses wearing the stamp of Nicklaus Design while the resort has a spa. Golf Villaitana’s telephone number is +34 966 815 000 and Villaitana Spa’s number is +34 966 816 063.

Accommodation

Benidorm is a very built up tourist resort and as such the capacity and rooms available for accommodation for short stays such as weekends or longer stays such as long-lets are great.

Fiestas

Fiesta is the Spanish word for festival, basically it is one giant celebration and party almost always with fireworks.

Try plan a visit to Benidorm to coincide with one of the many fiestas for a glimpse into real Spanish culture. The best fiesta in Benidorm is the week-long celebration in November when Benidorm practically comes to a standstill – for dates see our dedicated fiesta page.

What To Do At Night

Benidorm nightlife is famous and one of the main reason so many people come here throughout the year, not just summer.

Needless to say Benidorm is packed with restaurants, pubs, bars, cafes and nightclubs, many of them English and Irish.

There are literally thousands of bars and pubs and drink prices are very low (often €1 a pint!).

As well as this there is a lot of free entertainment such as comedians, cabaret, dancers, live bands and tribute bands such as Queen and Westlife. This makes Benidorm a fun place for a hen weekend or stag weekend.

Benidorm Tourist Offices (Oficina de Turismo)

Should you need help when you are in Benidorm you can find four official tourist information offices at these addresses:

Moving to Benidorm

If you are thinking of moving to Benidorm, then you must read our expat interview with Maria Marchenko of Mediterranean Properties below:

Maria, what would you say would be the advantages to living in Benidorm compared to other Costa Blanca towns?

The advantage is that in Benidorm you have a lot of life throughout the year which other Costa Blanca towns do not offer. You can go to bars and discos and enjoy the hustle and bustle if you want. Other towns have this only during the high season of summer and the rest of the year, you’ll probably be the unique person drinking beer.

Would the area not suit certain types of people, i.e. are there any possible downsides?

I don’t think that Benidorm would not suit somebody. It’s perfect both for families and for groups of friends who come here. It’s also great for bachelor parties.

What proportion of the local population are Spanish?

I would say that it depends on the season. In winter in Benidorm there are a lot of Spanish tourists alongside with Spanish property owners who come from other parts of Spain, especially from northern provinces. So, I would say that in summer the local population is 30% as the number of tourists increases very much. In winter the local population is around 60%.

What are your favourite things to do in the area?

I love to go hiking in the mount of La Cala de Finestrat that offers incredible sea views. Besides if you take the right path you can come up with the nudist beach with its chiringuito (summer beach bar) where you can do snorkeling and see the fishes as the water is very clear. It’s not obligatory to be a nudist to swim there. And I also like to go walking to the old coastal tower which is in Rincon de Loix. It’s a 30-minute beautiful walk along the coast, very popular among the locals.

Can you give us some insider tips to the best bars or restaurants?

I love good places. I would definitely recommend the Italian restaurant Topo Gigio that is on Avenida Mediterraneo. They have the best Italian food I have ever had. Then there’s La Falua restaurant in La Cala area. And the best one is Saltea in the Puerto Deportivo Luis Campomanes in Altea (not Benidorm, but it’s worth visiting).

Are there many facilities such as doctors and dentists, shops etc?

More than one can imagine! Two biggest private clinics (Hospital Clinica Benidorm and Hospital Levante) have English-speaking receptionists and doctors. There are also a number of private clinics where at least somebody speaks English. Very convenient.

Are there smaller villages nearby that you might also recommend?

Yes, Altea and Albir. Also Finestrat, a typical Spanish Mediterranean village. And no doubt everybody should visit Guadalest!

Elian’s British School in La Nucia (5-min drive away from Benidorm, there are school buses as well), Costa Blanca International School (Benidorm), Lope de Vega International School (Benidorm), and Sierra Bernia School in Alfaz del Pi (a 10-minute drive; it’s the oldest British school in the whole Costa Blanca, founded in 1973). Basically these ones are considered the best.

Is crime an issue for expats?

There’s no crime here. Everything is very calm in Spain! Everybody just have to remember to always lock the door, turn the key and don’t fall asleep on the street after a night of clubbing.

Coming onto buying property, what is the market like now in terms of prices going up, or down or staying the same?

The prices stopped going down approximately 2 years ago. Now we see the tendency where the sellers (I’m talking about the homeowners who use the services of real estate agencies) start to elevate the prices little by little. I mean there still are people who need to sell their property urgently and they may sell it below market value although that’s not the tendency anymore.

Is this a good time to buy and are there any repossessions or very cheap properties still available to buy?

This might be the last years to buy cheap as the crisis in Spain has gone long ago, and we see that the market is becoming more vivid. Private sellers feel it as well and that’s why they don’t want to sell their properties cheap anymore. The economy is becoming stronger and the banks don’t give mortgages so easily like 10 years ago. This is a good sign for the real estate sector. Very cheap properties and repossessions in Benidorm are extremely rare as it is a popular resort and the third most visited town in Spain. One cannot pretend to buy something here at the same price as in a remote village. The prices are stable but you still can find a good bargain from time to time.

What urbanisations are there and can you describe each one and how they might differ from each other?

There’s the Sierra Cortina urbanisation (close to Terra Mitica). It is gated and has a 24-hour video surveillance, proper pitch and putt, SPA, gym and a famous restaurant. Basically, it is considered as the most prestigious here.

Another urbanisation is Terra Marina. It’s behind Carrefour more or less. It’s a small, quiet and modern neighborhood where most of the houses have beautiful sea views.

There are also several urbanisations in Rincon de Loix (the so-called British area) consisting of villas and bungalows. Most of them have open-air communal pools and are within a 20-minute walk away from the beach. The buildings were constructed approximately 20 years ago. The only advantage of Rincon de Loix villas as compared to Sierra Cortina and Terra Marina ones is that all the amenities can be reached without the necessity of taking a car. However, in Sierra Cortina and in Terra Marina, the houses are new and built with modern materials.

How much are the typical property prices in Benidorm for apartments, villas etc?

The prices depend on the area. The difference is quite big for properties in new buildings and in the old ones as some developments were constructed in the 70s and the others in 2008. If we take a very general criteria of normal, economic flats not too close and not too far away from the beach, in a standard building built in the 70s-80s and with standard decoration work done, the minimum prices would be around €60,000 for a studio flat; €75,000-€80,000 for a 1-bed flat; €95,000 – €130,000 for a 2-bed flat; starting from €140,000 for a 3-bed flat. Villas in the so-called British area Rincon de Loix start from €200,000 and can go up to €600,000 and even €700,000. The prices for bungalows start from €150,000.

Any tips and advice to people looking to buy in Benidorm or surrounding area?

Advice: make up your mind on what exactly you want before arranging viewings with agencies. Compare prices and try to understand what type of property is available for your budget. It requires some effort of course, but once you do that you will save a lot of time with unnecessary viewings during your holiday and the agencies will be able to offer you only suitable properties.

Maria, thank you so much for taking the time to help our readers with your experiences in Spain. If you want to contact her, you can find her details below.

We have another fantastic interview and this time it is with Amanda Penalver of Inmobiliaria Nuñez.

Amanda, what would you say would be the advantages to living in Benidorm compared to other Costa Blanca towns?

Benidorm is possibly Spain´s most famous holiday resort … But there is so much more to the area than initially meets the eye.

Benidorm is much larger than many people think and has something to offer everyone … and has many advantages over other areas for people looking to move to Spain:

Real diversity. There are a host of choices of properties and areas, each with their own ambience in and around Benidorm. One can go for the lively areas such as Levante and Rincon, or more tranquil areas such as Poniente and La Cala de Finestrat. There are some fabulous locations on the outskirts of Benidorm that are often chosen for permanent living.

Benidorm lives all year….. which is extremely important for those looking to live here permanently. The shops, markets, cafes and restaurants are open all year and you and your guests can bob in and out of the lively resort area and enjoy the fabulous beaches, great shops and nightly entertainment and some good golf courses.

A reliable, regular and cheap public transport system including the bus service and tram are all available so one can move around the resort and to other areas easily. Local buses run around Benidorm and local areas very regularly and are very cheap. There is a great bus service to Alicante airport both for yourself and visitors. From the main bus
station in Benidorm one can take bus services to many parts of Spain and Europe. The tram service runs down to Alicante and up towards Valencia.

Again, it is regular and great value plus in parts of the journey there are fabulous views to enjoy.

Great infrastructure and services for permanent living including excellent medical services both as part of the national service and private, often with English speaking staff, a great selection of national and International (including British curriculum) schools, good transport services. Many town halls have English speaking staff
to assist with any formalities and offer good services in the community including libraries, sports centers etc.

Many parts of Benidorm are fairly flat which is perfect for those who are not so mobile.

It is only around 35 minutes to Alicante airport, with both Valencia Manses airport and San Javier within reasonable travelling distance.

English is widely spoken in many areas while one can find areas that are typically Spanish but with the comfort that there are English speaking facilities close by.

Would the area not suit certain types of people, i.e. are there any possible downsides?

Benidorm has something for everyone, but it is important to have good unbiased local knowledge when deciding where to settle. Your decision will be based on whether you want to be in the hustle and bustle of the main resort area, in the typically Spanish Old Town, or maybe the more sedate Poniente and La Cala de Finestrat and Villajoyosa areas. As Benidorm has a regular and very reasonable bus service, it is possible to live in these areas without needing your own vehicle – perfect for those who prefer not to drive or have a young family where public transport is important.

What proportion of the local population are Spanish?

The population is very transient so hard to say.

What are your favourite things to do in the area?

Benidorm is known for its great beaches and wide choice of first class nightly entertainment. In addition to the sunbathing and partying, there are wealth of things to do in and close to Benidorm. Of course there are the famous theme and water parks to enjoy: Aqualandia, Mundomar, Terramitica and Terra/Aqua Natura…. and a good choice of golf courses.

A wander around Benidorm´s Old Town is a must …. with its quaint narrow streets and famous Mirador view point a must for a photo.

Enjoy the fabulous selection of shops and boutiques with a huge selection on offer.

Benidorm enjoys markets galore … there is the huge famous tourist market on Sundays and Wednesdays, plus a local market close to the Bull Ring on Wednesday where you will shop with the locals. There is the popular Indoor market in Rincon de Loix Monday to Saturday. Or jump on the bus and head to La Cala de Villajoyosa where there is a market on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

If you enjoy walking, there are local clubs that organise various levels of walks or you can take a fabulous scenic walk through the national park up to the cross at Rincon de Loix, or along the coast from la Cala to the town of Villajoyosa. Close by are the walks to the Albir Light house, along the Albir and Altea promenade to Altea
old Town, of the Finistrat´s Fonts de Moli to name but a few.

Benidorm is home to a host of fiestas so check local publications to see what’s on.

Close by, there is the fabulous medieval town of Guadalest on Spain´s top tourist spots and one can swim in the water falls at Algar.

Don´t forget the great tram service to go a bit further a field, maybe Valencia city, Alicante or Jativa.

Photo by Inmobiliaria Nuñez

Can you give us some insider tips to the best bars or restaurants?

Benidorm itself boasts over 300 bars and restaurants offering a host of culinary delights to suit all pockets:

If you want some entertainment one must visit the amazing Benidorm Palace or Levi’s Show boat where you can dine and take in the show.

Benidorm has nightly entertainment and one can look at the website Benidorm Seriously to see what acts are on and where the venues are. There are so many to choose from.

Old town is a must to visit … have a wander and try some local specialities in Tapas Alley … or for the more traditional enjoy Paneils or the ever popular Four Seasons … For those looking for the Gay scene check out Kaffee Klee, Sensations and the Ritch Bitch.

Are there many facilities such as doctors and dentists, shops etc?

Benidorm has good National health facilities plus some fabulous private hospitals offering first class facilities with many English speaking staff:

There are various small towns and villages close to Benidorm, each with its own ambience:

Finestrat – Finestrat covers a large area from the lovely old village with lots of facilities in the quaint narrow streets nestled in the hills down to the bay of the Cala de Finestrat a resort known to locals as the 3rd Beach of Benidorm.

Albir – A lovely beach resort very popular with Scandinavians that lives all year but is much more tranquil than Benidorm. One can walk along the promenade to Altea.

Altea – Chic Altea has so much to offer. The marina and front line is buzzing. There is a stunning typically Spanish Old town with some amazing eateries nestled in the quaint streets leading to the balcony with cafes and fabulous views up and down the coast. Also on offer is the more sedate but very select area known as Altea hills, where one can find some jaw dropping properties that enjoy spectacular views. There is a regular bus service via Altea and Alfaz del Pi to Benidorm.

La Nucia – La Nucia covers a large area and is a real mix of the modern and traditional. One can find every type of property there alongside many commercial areas, a magnificent sports and leisure centre and the lovely quaint old town with it´s lovely church and little plazas. There is a bus service to Benidorm.

Polop – Nestled below the Sleeping Lion mountain is the small town of Polop de La Marina. Polop is famous for it´s water fountains and is a lovely village with plenty of facilities and lovely Old area with some amazing views from the café and tourist sights at the top. There is some great value modern housing close to town.

Relleu – A typically Spanish village offering exceptional value and a bit of real Spain just a short distance from Benidorm. Relleu is a great place to live with a real community feel and lots of facilities including a school and medical center, just a short drive from the coast and Benidorm.

What are the nearest international schools and how good are they?

In Benidorm there are a host of state schools for those that wish their children to be educated in the Spanish system.

Within travelling distance there are the following International schools which all have excellent reputations:

Benidorm on the whole is very safe and most visitors feel secure both day and night when out and about in the resort. As in all areas one must be prudent and take the normal precautions – e.g stick to the main routes and lit areas when walking home at night.

The main crime is pickpocketing which can be a problem in the market – so take sensible precautions – not having your wallet on show in your back pocket walking around with handbag open…. only take with you what you need.

There have been some cases of theft around the disco area … again be sensible if a young lady starts hugging you in the street. It may not be your physical magnetism that she is after but your money!!

Photo by Inmobiliaria Nuñez

Coming onto buying property, what is the market like now in terms of prices going up, or down or staying the same? Is this a good time to buy and are there any repossessions or very cheap properties still available to buy?

There has never been a better time to buy properties in Benidorm. There are some great properties at very competitive prices on the market and we are definitely seeing signs of the market recovering which is great for all those who have made a good buy.

As the rental market is very strong in Benidorm this can be a good option while waiting for the market to improve to make your investment work for you.

There are still some interesting opportunities to buy bank properties in an around the resort with some real gems to be had!

What urbanisations are there and can you describe each one and how they might differ from each other?

The center and resort areas of Benidorm consists mostly of apartments, although from time to time resort based houses and villas do become available.

On the outskirts of the town, there are various urbanisations offering villas and town houses both with modern and more traditional styles. Many of these urbanisations are gated and have communal pools.

Very close to Benidorm is the fabulous urbanisation of Sierra Cortina with 24 hour security, luxury villas plus gated communities, bar and restaurant, golf and so much more just minutes from the beaches of Benidorm.

How much are the typical property prices in Benidorm for apartments, villas etc?

In Benidorm one can find 1-bedroom apartments from 75,000 euros upwards and 2-bedroom properties from 100,000 euros.

Houses close to the resort can start from 120,000 euros as a guide with detached villas from around 180,000 euros.

Any tips and advice to people looking to buy in Benidorm or surrounding area?

Benidorm and the surrounding areas are fabulous for permanent living plus for investment. The most valuable tip is to get the right location that suits your lifestyle or your aims with regards to investment.

Always use the services of an established agent, preferably with an API license to ensure you buy your property correctly and with total peace of mind.

Amanda, thank you so much for taking the time to help our readers with your experiences in Spain. If you want to contact her, you can find her details below.

The video below is a high-definition tourist guide of the best sights of Benidorm:

Contact us to be featured – we want more expat interviews for our newsletter and website. You don’t need to be an estate agent, we want to hear from anyone who lives in Spain whether you are working or retired.

Page Summary – This page contains unique content about the beach resort of Benidorm in Spain – the most popular tourist resort on the Costa Blanca coast of Spain.

Comments

Just returned from 2 weeks in Benidorm ,and was approached by 2 girls doing a survey about
our holiday,and how we booked the holiday,ect also are we happy with our hotel (Riudor hotel)
and would we like a free holiday? I then i asked was it timeshare and was told timeshare was
not allowed in Benidorm?
We were contacted the next day informing us that we had won a free holiday,next morning
a representative came at 10-30am and took us to The Gift Company (in the Old Town)
and on numerous times asked was it Timeshare and was told again NO,
After 3 1/2 hours we walked away with a very angry lady who had tried and sell my wife and i
reduced 3/5 years holiday memberships,we are both 74years old,and i think many uk
holiday makers are being drawn into this scam, which is putting people of coming to
your resorts?
on the terms & conditions it states (timeshare/ownership system)
Please could you approach these people and explain the European law and protect your
holiday makers.